Schedule
Arneson River Theater Plaza Stage
Concert style setting for presentation by larger groups
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Bluesqueezebox
8:00pm - 9:00pm
Pine Leaf Boys
9:30pm - 10:30pm
Albert Zamora y Talento
1:30pm - 2:15pm
Bohemian Dutchmen
2:35pm - 3:20pm
Albert Zamora y Talento
3:40pm - 4:25pm
Joao Cerilo
4:45pm - 5:30pm
Dwight Lamb
5:50pm - 6:35pm
Buille
6:55pm - 7:40pm
Lammam Group
8:00pm - 8:45pm
Ivan Milev Band
9:05pm - 9:50pm
Hector del Curto's Tango Quartet
1:30pm - 2:15pm
Retoño
2:35pm - 3:20pm
Buille
3:40pm - 4:25pm
La Santa Cecilia
4:45pm - 5:30pm
Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole
5:50pm - 6:35pm
Hector del Curto's Tango Quartet
6:55pm - 7:40pm
Riyzaaz Qawwali
8:00pm - 8:45pm
Socalled
9:05pm - 9:50pm
Lammam Group
Maverick Plaza Stage
Main stage featuring larger bands playing popular social dance-oriented music
12:00pm - 12:45pm
Bohemian Dutchmen
1:05pm - 1:50pm
Bluesqueezebox
2:10pm - 2:55pm
Lammam Group
3:15pm - 4:00pm
La Santa Cecilia
4:20pm - 5:05pm
Ivan Milev Band
5:25pm - 6:10pm
Pine Leaf Boys
6:30pm - 7:15pm
Joao Cerilo
7:35pm - 8:20pm
Socalled
8:40pm - 9:25pm
Albert Zamora y Talento
9:45pm - 10:30pm
Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole
12:00pm - 12:45pm
Hector del Curto's Tango Quartet
1:05pm - 1:50pm
Buille
2:10pm - 2:55pm
Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole
3:15pm - 4:00pm
Socalled
4:20pm - 5:05pm
Riyaaz Qawwali
5:25pm - 6:10pm
Joao Cerilo
6:30pm - 7:15pm
Ivan Milev Band
7:35pm - 8:20pm
La Santa Cecilia
8:40pm - 9:25pm
Pine Leaf Boys
9:45pm - 10:30pm
Retoño
Juarez Plaza Stage
Intensive workshops and demonstrations with moderated topics that encourage exchange across musical traditions and between artists and audiences
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Louisiana Cajun: Then and Now
Singer-accordionist Wilson Savoy is the son of renowned Cajun musician-scholars Marc and Ann Savoy. It is no wonder then that the young Savoy would not only form his own Cajun band, but one that is dedicated to exploring the music’s roots. "We're trying to go back as far as we can for inspiration," he has said in interviews. The group’s passionate playing and exuberant performances are a testament to its commitment and technical prowess. We’ll uncover Savoy’s and his fellow musicians’ individual musical past and experiences, their journey through Cajun and Creole musical history, and how the Pine Leaf Boys are updating the traditions for today’s audiences.
2:00pm - 3:00pm
African Roots: Louisiana Creole Meets Cape Verdean Funaná
Joao Cerilo and Cedric Watson hail from completely different parts of the world, but musically the two accordionists have a great deal in common. Both play musical traditions that merge African and European influences and that reflect a history of colonialism, migration and the evolution of a distinctive creolized language – based on French in Louisiana and Portuguese in Cape Verde – and culture. Cedric Watson, in particular, has reached out to musicians across the “Creole Diaspora” in the Caribbean and Africa to form exciting new musical collaborations. We can’t wait to see what happens with this pairing! Not to be missed.
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Polka Dancing with Bohemian Dutchmen
Octoberfest comes to the International Accordion Festival. Grab yourself a partner and kick off the afternoon with some good old-fashioned polka dancing! Music will be provided by one of the longest-running polka bands in the area, the Bohemian Dutchmen. The group hails from New Braunfels, home of the annual Wurstfest which celebrates German and Czech culture, food, drink and lots of polka dancing. Accordionist and bandleader Roy Haag will lead the 33-year old band in classic polka tunes that range from quick two-steps to slower waltzes. You’ll want to brush off the lederhosen, polka skirt and dancing shoes and come on down for some old-time polka dancing, Texas-style.
5:00pm - 6:00pm
¡Que Viva el Acordeon!: Latin Traditions and Fusions
Albert Zamora hails from Corpus Christi and La Santa Cecilia accordionist José Carlos calls Los Angeles home. Both have explored a variety of Latino musical styles such as Tex-Mex conjunto, cumbia, salsa and peppered them with American a wide range of influences from rock to funk to rap to jazz. Find out how these musicians (and their fellow players) developed their own brand of Latino popular music through connecting with distinct regional and local musical heritages along with some creative blending, mixing and collaborating.
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Fiddling Around the Accordion
The fiddle is very often paired with the accordion in many folk music traditions. Old time accordionist and fiddler Dwight Lamb and the Pine Leaf Boys’ fiddle player Courtney Granger will be joined by band members to explore the role of the fiddle in Missouri Style Old Time music and Louisiana Cajun and Creole music. Lamb is the son of Danish immigrants who learned traditional Danish melodies and American-style accordion and fiddle playing from his father and grandfather. He’s been playing for over 60 years. Granger is part of the Balfa family, which produced the famed Balfa Brothers Cajun band who gained national popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. This workshop explores two very distinct styles of American fiddling and pairs an experienced legend with a rising star.
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Improvising Around the Accordion
In the folk traditions of the Middle East and in Eastern Europe, improvisation plays a central role in the music, whether it is made for dancing or for listening. Lebanese-born Elias Lammam and Bulgarian Ivan Milev are both highly accomplished accordionists and band leaders in folk traditions that feature a generous amount of improvisation, not only on their own instruments but that of the musicians in their bands. Improvisation in Middle Eastern music allows for the melody line to grow and become embellished and to show off the instrument on which it is played. It also indicates key changes and allows the listener to explore other instruments. In Bulgarian music improvisation also allows for instrumental virtuosity and can help drive a musical piece faster and faster, challenging each musician along the way. Lammam, Milev and their fellow musicians will discuss and demonstrate the endless creative possibilities improvising allows in their respective traditions.
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Uniting Tex-Mex Conjunto & Norteño: The Next Generation
Solomon (accordion) and Samuel (bajo sexto) Ramos are products of a musical family and the culturally vibrant Rio Grande Valley of South Texas where Tex-Mex conjunto and Norteño music are still regarded as the most significant expressions of local heritage and identity. Local school officials have recognized the importance offering conjunto as part of the San Benito High School’s unique fine arts program; that’s where the brothers and a cousin honed their craft. Before they even graduated, the group’s second album, 2007’s Prefiero la Soledad earned them a GRAMMY award nomination. Join the Ramos brothers and the band as they recount their experiences growing up with music as part of their everyday lives, how they are making this music relevant to Mexican American youth by fusing these border-based traditions with new sounds and ideas, how they are reaching out to the mainstream music industry today, and to hear samples from their newly released CD! Young people are especially encouraged to attend.
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Dance Funaná!
Funaná is the name of the accordion-based music tradition and dance form that hails from the island country of Cape Verde, located off the coast of West Africa. In this workshop accordionist Joao Cerilo and his band put dancer/teacher/choreographer Maria “Queen Tida” Rodrigues front and center to conduct a workshop on this electrifying dance tradition. The funaná rhythm has several distinct variants. In fact, one such variant, batuque, inspired the name of Cerilo’s band Pilon Batuku. Rodriques and the group will demonstrate this and other funaná dances featuring lively kicks and intricate body and arm movements. Shake off your inhibitions and give it a try! All ages are welcome.
Bolivar Hall
A combination Coffee House/Pena-style performance space featuring acoustic performances, open mics and jam sessions to engage the participation of accordion clubs, student groups and other performers
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Accordion Dreams
Dreams Fulfilled through Music is a pioneer in the development of creative teaching for students with all types of disabilities, including the Alamo Angels Accordion Orchestra. This workshop will encourage interaction and present opportunities to inspire not only teachers and students, but to give the general public a new vision as to the possibilities for seniors to learn to play the accordion. Demonstrating the many and varied ways to become an active participant in the making of music on the accordion, regardless of challenges faced, The Alamo Angels kick off Saturday with music straight from the heart.
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Old Time Accordion
Dwight Lamb has been playing the fiddle and accordion for over 60 years. Born and raised in Iowa, Dwight absorbed a unique repertoire of Danish melodies played by his grandfather combined with the vibrant American stringband music and fiddle tunes, the “old time” music, that he picked up from radio, records, and local fiddlers. While the accordion is not often heard in American old time music, Dwight often plays the Missouri Style fiddle and dance tunes on his single row button box. We’ll talk about the accordion’s role in a traditional stringband and hear some of Dwight’s favorite old time tunes.
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Open Mic
4:30pm - 5:30pm
Accordion Shakedown: Musical Crossovers and Experimentations
We don’t know what to expect, but we do know it will be a good time! If you were wondering just how versatile the accordion could possibly be, Socalled and BLUESQUEEZEBOX have each found the answer and you too will want to be in the know! Both bands are mining a wide range of traditional, popular and decidedly eclectic musical genres all the while putting the accordion front and center. Members of both bands will be on hand – with accordions, a range of musical instruments, noisemakers and electronics in tow – to discuss and demonstrate whatever it is they do to create music that makes you want to smile, to dance and “to get jiggy with it.”
12:00pm - 1:00pm
La Santa Cecilia Block Party
Newly minted as a “Latin Grammy Award Nominee” for their 2011 song “La Negra,” La Santa Cecilia is the latest hot young Latino fusion band to be been gaining momentum and new fans across the US. Many critics are saying they are masters at merging regional folk and popular influences with well-tuned global sensibilities. You won’t want to miss this up-close-and-personal, semi-acoustic set with this unique LA-based band also known for taking to the streets to connect with fans at neighborhood block parties. Interspersed between their beloved cumbia, funk, punk, samba, son jarocho and jazzy dance mixes and soulful Latin ballads you’ll learn about the group’s early musical experiences, influences and deep connection to the accordion and their local community!
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Improvising Around the Accordion
Qawwali songs can each last anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes long. That may sound like a lot of time for a song, but then in the qawwali tradition (Sufi devotional music of South Asia) the role improvisation plays in the musical structure allows the listener the ability to experience very high energy levels and to connect with the vocalists, harmonium (free reed instrument similar to the accordion), violin, drum and hand claps. It can also lead to a hypnotic state experienced by both listener and musician. Sonny Metha and members of Riyaaz Qawwali will introduce you to musical arrangements, different levels of improvisation performed throughout a piece, relationships between the voice and instruments while improvising, and the deeply spiritual and poetic song tradition that is at the core of this tradition. You’ll also be introduced to qawwali singing style and technique, which is very different from most Western singing styles.
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Jam Session with Dwight Lamb
4:30pm - 5:30pm
Accordions by Another Name
Buille and Hector del Curto represent musical traditions – Irish folk and Argentine tango, respectively – that feature free reed instruments which are more related to each other than the typical accordion. Buille’s Niall Vallely plays the concertina and del Curto plays the bandoneón. Both musicians have not only mastered their respective musical traditions, but are also world renowned as soloists on these closely-related instruments. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn all about the concertina and the bandoneón and these two exceptional players. Likewise, we’ll learn about the role these instruments play in Irish and Aregntine folk music in general and how they are emblematic of the styles that feature them.
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